Talon vs Swain

Talon
vs
Not enough games
Swain
Heavy AP damageHigh sustainSustained DPSHigh burst

Build vs Swain

The champion's reference build, for lack of enough games in this matchup

Recommended items for Talon: Umbral Glaive, Bastionbreaker, Voltaic Cyclosword, Boots of Swiftness, Lord Dominik's Regards, Edge of Night, Serylda's Grudge, Guardian Angel.

Starting items

Gustwalker Hatchling

Core build

Umbral Glaive
1
Bastionbreaker
2
Voltaic Cyclosword
3

Standard

Boots of Swiftness
4vs Slow
Lord Dominik's Regards
5

Anti CC

Mercury's Treads
4vs CC

Other options

Lord Dominik's Regards
Edge of Night
Serylda's Grudge
Guardian Angel
Death's Dance
Youmuu's Ghostblade

Power Spikes

Strength by game phase

Swain's abilities

Passive, spells and ultimate

Ravenous Flock (P)

Swain's ravens collect Soul Fragments that heal him and permanently increase his maximum health.

Cooldowns

Cooldowns by spell rank

LevelQWER
37s20s12s–
65s20s12s2m
93s19s12s2m
113s18s12s2m
163s16s11s2m
183s16s10s2m

Playing as Talon

Tips to maximize your impact

  1. Three spells, then an auto

    Apply three Blade's End (passive) stacks by hitting with your spells, then strike with an auto: the target starts bleeding and takes heavy damage over time.

  2. Use Noxian Diplomacy up close

    Cast Noxian Diplomacy (Q) in melee range when you can: instead of the leap, it lands a critical strike. If it kills, it heals you and comes back faster.

  3. Bring your blades back on your target

    During Shadow Assault (R), break invisibility with an auto or Noxian Diplomacy (Q): the blades then converge on your target instead of coming back to you.

  4. Push, then roam over the walls

    Push your wave, then roam by vaulting walls with Assassin's Path (E): the spell comes back fast, but you can only cross the same wall again after a long delay.

Playing against Swain

How to counter and exploit weaknesses

  1. Dodge Nevermove on its return

    Get out of the Nevermove (E) path as it comes back: it only roots on its return to Swain, then he can pull each rooted champion to him.

  2. Leave the area of his eye

    Leave the area as soon as Vision of Empire (W) appears: it strikes and slows 1.5 seconds later, and each champion hit gives him a Soul Fragment.

  3. Keep your distance during his ult

    During Demonic Ascension (R), back off and hit from range if you can: he only drains nearby enemies, and his form ends when he stops draining.

  4. Cut his healing during his ult

    If you have Grievous Wounds, apply it during Demonic Ascension (R): the drain heals him every second, and that healing keeps him alive.

Patch 16.21.1